In one of the recent posts we wrote about our little change of program: we added a stop in Uruguay because is really close to Buenos Aires. So, why not?
Also, I'm glad to communicate you the date of our meeting: 26th January.
Now the trip has a start and an end date. In fact, I'll back to Europe on March 18. So the trip will last for almost two months!
By the way, in the first days of March we'll be in Buenos Aires and Montevideo (I'm afraid to start to this post about "what to see", because I think there's too much to see in these awesome cities).
Buenos Aires is the capital and the largest city of Argentina and is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata.
Curious: people from Buenos Aires are referred to as porteños (people of the port).
The original name was given by the Spanish sailors that arrived in the River de la Plata, by the blessings of the "Santa Maria de los Buenos Aires", the "Holy Virgen Mary of the Good Winds" that gave them the good winds to reach the coast of what is today the city.
What to see:
- Plaza de Mayo: one of the most historical and important place in Baires, it has been the scene of the 25 May 1810 revolution that led to independence of Argentina. The plaza, since 1977, is where the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo have congregated with pictures of desaparecidos, their sons, who were subject to forced disappearance by the Argentine military in the Dirty War.
- Casa Rosada: The Casa Rosada sits at the eastern end of the Plaza de Mayo, is the executive mansion and office of the President of Argentina, famous for its particular color and architecture. The side of the palace that faces Plaza de Mayo is actually the back of the building.
- Barrio Recoleta: it is an area of great historical and architectural interest, mostly because of the Recoleta Cemetery. It is also an important tourist destination and cultural center of the city. In addition to historical monuments, it is home to the National Fine Arts Museum or Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, the National Library of Argentina, the Recoleta Cultural Center, other exhibition venues and green spaces.
- Cementerio de la Recoleta: The Recoleta Cemetery is one of the main tourist attractions in the neighborhood. It was designed by the French architect Prosper Catelin and is visited daily by large numbers of tourists and admirers of Peronism because there's the tomb of his wife Eva - Evita, for Argentines.
- Barrio La Boca: it retains a strong European flavour with its colourful houses and pedestrian street, the Caminito, where tango artists perform. Many of its early settlers being from the Italian city of Genoa. In fact the name has a strong assonance with the Genoese neighborhood of Boccadasse and some people believe that the Buenos Aires barrio was indeed named after it.
- Barrio Palermo: is the largest neighborhood in Buenos Aires, the name of the district is derived from Franciscan abbey of "Saint Benedict of Palermo", an alternative name for Saint Benedict the Moor. Saint Benedict the Moor lived from 1526 to 1589 and is a complementary patron saint of Palermo, the city of Sicily. Palermo can be subdivided into several areas like Palermo Chico and Barrio Parque, Palermo Norte, Alto Palermo, Villa Freud, Palermo Nuevo and Palermo Zoológico (with Parque Tres de Febrero), Palermo Viejo, Palermo Soho (the atmosphere in many cafés and restaurants strives to be really particular, which makes this area of the city especially popular with young and tourists) and Palermo Hollywood (a number of TV and Radio producers installed themselves in the area). There's a Plaza Italia here too, where have to go!
- Barrio San Telmo: cafes, tango parlors, antique shops, old churches (e.g. San Pedro Telmo), museums, art galleries are located in this areaantique stores and antique fair (Feria de Antigüedades) in the main square, Plaza Dorrego.
- Puerto Madero: it's representing the latest architectural trends in the city. In the 1990s, investment led to a massive regeneration effort, recycling and refurbishing the west side warehouses into elegant houses, offices, lofts, private universities, and restaurants that conform to a gallery of options for this new district in a city that grew up turning its back to the river. Every street in Puerto Madero is named after women. Puente de la Mujer (Women's Bridge) is the newest link between the east and west docks of Puerto Madero.
- Torre Monumental: (before "Tower of the English") is a clock tower located in the barrio Retiro, it was a gift from the local British community to the city in commemoration of the centennial of the May Revolution of 1810. After the Falklands War in 1982, the tower was renamed Torre Monumental. The tower is built in Palladian style, the building is decorated with symbols of the British Empire and features the thistle of Scotland, the English rose, the Welsh dragon and the Irish shamrock. The tower reaches a height of 75m and the bells were designed in imitation of the ones at Westminster Abbey.
- Avenida 9 de Julio: is the widest avenue in the world. Its name honors Argentina's Independence Day, July 9, 1816. At the intersection of the city's three main arteries 9th of July Avenue, Corrientes Avenue, and Diagonal Norte we can also see Plaza de la República where's located the symbol of Buenos Aires; the Obelisk with its height of 67m. By the way, 9th July is my birthday. Just saying.
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| Barrio San Telmo |
I said I was afraid. I think I've wrote only 1/3 of what there's to visit in Buenos Aires, actually. That's why if you're from there or if you know the city and you're reading us, feel free to tell other beautiful places in this huge and fascinating city to add to our to do list!
Soon: what to see in Montevideo.
Sources: Wikipedia, Bestourism, PulsoSocial, Traveler, Bigodino, Buenos Aires Touring Lonely PlanetMorgana.
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